IDF continues to locate tunnels along Israel’s border with Lebanon; IDF continues manhunt for Givat Assaf and Ofra terrorists; UNIFIL verifies the existence of a second tunnel “north of the previous”.
The IDF exposed a fourth Hezbollah tunnel entering Israeli territory from Lebanon over the weekend.
The IDF confirmed over the weekend, “We just found a fourth Hezbollah tunnel dug from Lebanon into Israel,” and that “the route of the tunnel is under IDF control and poses no threat.”
Operation Northern Shield was launched on December 4 to expose Hezbollah’s cross-border, terror tunnel network. The terror organization began constructing the tunnels following the 2006 Second Lebanon War. The tunnels are in violation of international law and UN Resolution 1701.
Last Tuesday the IDF located and destroyed a third tunnel. It confirmed that the tunnel crossed the Blue Line and entered Israeli territory and that IDF forces placed explosives in the tunnel, warning Hezbollah militants to enter at their own risk.
Major General Stefano Del Col, the head of UNIFIL, the peacekeeping force on the Lebanon-Israel border, met with Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun ahead of the weekend. He informed the president and press of a recent UNIFIL inspection of a tunnel located near Israel’s northern town of Metulla, confirming “[UNIFIL] carried out a site inspection to confirm the existence of a tunnel… a UNIFIL technical team led by the Deputy Force Commander verified the existence of a second tunnel north of the previous one in the same general area. UNIFIL is continuing to follow up on this issue in close coordination with the Lebanese Armed Forces.”
It reiterated “UNIFIL will make every effort to maintain clear and credible channels of communication with both sides so that there is no room for misunderstanding on this sensitive matter.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu will hold his weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday to address the progress of Operation Northern Shield with security and political officials.
Meanwhile, the IDF continued its search for the Palestinian terrorists responsibility for the deaths of two IDF soldiers and a baby from attacks last week in Ofra and Givat Assaf. During two shooting attacks, most likely carried out by Hamas terrorists from the West Bank, the terrorists escaped. The IDF continues to carry out extensive searches in Ramallah, Hebron and Palestinian towns, including raids and dozens of arrests.
Netanyahu warned Hamas ahead of the weekend, “We will settle accounts with whoever did this. Our guiding principle is that whoever attacks us and whoever tries to attack us – will pay with his life. Our enemies know this and we will find them.”
Amir will give a Middle East Update from Slovenia on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018 at 8:00 pm Ljubljana local time. The update will be added to Youtube following.
Photo: Getmilitaryphotos/Shutterstock.com
